Hi there IS MISE & TTBN...

I've mentioned before. John HOWARD 'did not' voluntarily put on the 'Morgan Magnum Ten' 'Hard Insert', Body Armour. He wore it at the absolute insistence of his 'personal close protection' Team Leader, an AFP Snr. Sergeant.

IS MISE your suggestion, the US could perhaps hold a binding referendum, apropos amending the Constitution's Second Amendment, 'The right to bare arms'. Then abide by the democratic decision? I think it to be a brilliant idea, I really do. The only trouble being would all the various militia, forest dwellers, and other 'back to nature folk' willingly abide by the outcome, if it turned out to be unfavourable to their cause? You know as well as anyone how passionate they can be, whenever they get a bee in their bonnet's? A terrific idea no doubt.

True LEOJ, drugs are a menace wherever you go and are often the root cause of many violent instances and crimes, not only occasioned by F/A's but everything else you care to name. ICE by all accounts is one of the worst, luckily for me, ICE did not feature with such a high profile, when I was in the business, but I've heard plenty since I've retired, let me tell you? Small individuals with extraordinary strength with complete obliviousness to pain, almost an automaton by nature and totally unaware to any other stimulant's they may've taken. Very dangerous people who can exact much damage whenever they're cornered and/or challenged.

ttbn,

'The weapons involved are legally available here and automatic weapons in the US are strictly controlled."

Sorry if I gave the wrong impression, the weapons involved appear to have been semi-automatic and these are available here on Category C and D licences, fully auto firearms are another thing altogether and seem to be mainly confined to the military, some police and to criminals.

o sung wu,

Just to break the discussion out of the sides this seems to fall into,

"What If We Treated Guns Like Cars? Then We Might Be Able to Enact Truly 'Common-Sense' Gun Laws"

http://www.forbes.com/sites/trevorburrus/2017/10/06/what-if-we-treated-guns-like-cars-then-we-might-be-able-to-enact-truly-common-sense-gun-laws/#5eba34be2c73

Dear O Sung Wu,

The United States is a nation that has the most guns.
It would therefore make sense to make sure that it's people
were protected and this should not mean - letting
them have more guns.

For a start -

1) Gun owners should be required to have mandatory training
and licensing along with safe and secure gun storage.
Gun owners should be required
to regularly refresh their training and renew their permits
with requirements at least as stringent as those governing
renewal of a driver's license.

2) It would help to ensure that mental health services across
the country were not cut. Cutting these services does not help.

3) Parents should be made aware of children's
exposure to violence.
A reduction of this exposure would be a step in the right
direction.

4) Sensible gun laws need to be put in place.
Some suggestions should include the - banning of assault
weapons and high capacity magazines.

5) Other suggestions are -
Background checks on gun owners.

6) Strict penalties for gun
trafficking,

7) Mental health and drug screening.

8) Limiting
the number of guns per person.

9) Finally, provide safe communities - support citywide planning
which should include and provide for youth activities and involvement.

There's more on my list but this will have to do for now.

Hi there LEOJ and FOXY...

An interesting piece in 'Forbes', though somewhat simplistic I think. While it's true, a M/V and a F/A, are after all, just tools. Albeit their purpose and design are altogether different. Whereas a car is primarily a mode of transport, that if inappropriately used is capable of killing. But a F/A is exclusively an instrument for killing, fit for no other purpose whatsoever. I do understand what he's saying Leo I really do, but a gun has only one purpose - to kill.

FOXY, it always amazes me, how many of our really 'logical and commonsense' thinkers, turn out to be Ladies. Near the bottom of your list, you cited 'Limitation'. Just how many guns can one shoot at a time, and how many disciplines are there in target/skeet shooting, or hunting for that matter?

Another of your salient points, banning altogether, the possession, use, or importation from, State to State in the United States; ALL assault weapons, including those commercially designed to replicate assault weapons. There's no possible need for anyone to have such a weapon, save for the military and law enforcement.

Mental Health. That's a toughie FOXY. The right of privacy between a patient and his Doctor, and in this case, Psychiatrist. Police often have dossiers on criminals who they suspect of being mentally ill as well as their criminal exploits. Privacy and litigation to do with breaches of privacy, abound in the US. But in order to further screen, 'a fit and proper person' to have a licence, it must be done, and done carefully?

FOXY; all of your points are more than valid and to introduce even a couple of those points, could help in reducing some of these deaths.

Thanks - LEOJ & FOXY for your input.

o sung wu,

The example was intended to be helpful, to open up and facilitate some discussion, to show what blocks discussion and how discussion might be progressed.

Anyhow, have a good one and see you on another thread.